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Salman plans to set up Secretariat if elected FBCCI president

By Staff Correspondent
The role of the Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI) should be.more active tn shaping the government s trade and industrial policies, observes Salman F Rahman, an Industrialist of the country.
In the past, the Federation has mostly reacted to the government policies, but in the future, it must help formulate the government policies." said Rahman — one of the seven candidates still tn the race of the coveted post of FBCCI President In the electtons scheduled for October 17.
Deputy Chairman of the Beximco Group. Rahman Is also a former president of the Metropolitan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (MCCI).
The Federation has a much more broader role to play than its present one as more of a complaint centre, he said.
Rahman is contesting for the post of FBCCI president as the head of the Bangladesh Oushad Shllpa Samlty
Moreover, the FBCCI is now primarily centered around one person - the president which Is completely wrong as in any successful organisation there has to be team-work representation in discharging both collective as well as dele gated responsibilities."he said.
In an exclusie Interview with The Dally Star at his Dhanmondi office. Rahman proposed to set up a strong Secretariat at the Federation, having the capability of producing indepth policy papers on trade and Industry* 'To have an active role, the Federation must have a strong secretariat," he opined.
u If elected president, he
would work collectively through various statutory and advisory committees to make FBCCI more participatory and active, he added.
"I am more and more convinced that there are a lot of talents in the business community who would be willing to come forward and give their service provided the atmosphere arid environment at the Federation was congenial,'' he said
The FBCCI has failed to play a pragmatic role under the rapidly changing circumstances. he felt. “But 1 don't want to be critical as there is no use of dwelling on the past, rather we should- look towards the future."
Bangladesh can only change its fortune under the rapidly changing global economic scenario. If the country's business community comes forward and is fully activated. Rahman maintained.* "The business community is fully competent and capable of bringingMbout this change."
But the business community needs to be more organised and united which* requires correct guidance from an apex forum like FBCCI,'he said.
"The reason 1. decided to run for the FBCCI. presidency Is that I believe that it is only the business community which can change the fortune of Bangladesh, as the business communities of all countries from Japan to Thailand have done for their .respective countries." he maintained. "But the business community needsTBCCI to provide strong, correct leadership."
Rahman. 43. Is currently Involved in d wide-range of business activities through the
Beximco Group, including textiles. pharmaceutical: jute and frozen foods. Beximeo was awarded the President's export trophy for five different years during the past 15 years or so.
He is at present the Executive Committee member of the MCC1 . and the Bangladesh Employers Association and is also an active member of 12 trade associations^ ' ■
Married with a son and a daughjer. Rahman is also active in the socio-cultural arena and Is, the president of the Abahanl Krira Chakra, vice president of the Bangladesh Football Federation and is an avid art collector.
On the current economic performance of the country. Rahman said although the targets set by the government Is being achieved but the target Itself may not be adequate.
He questioned the adequacy of setting a growth rate target of six per cent for the current fiscal year saying that it may not be enough to meet the challenges that Bangladesh faces: "(. feel a higher growth
rate of at least eight to nine per cent sustained over a period of five to six years will Be needed to achieve economic breakthrough.
Rahman is also very much • In favour of liberalisation of the local market provided tlfe local producers have a reciprocal access to other markets and that they are also provided with a level playing field in terms of infrastructure and services compared to the competitors in another country '
He also advocated for greater deregulation saying government services from ports and airports to giving fitness certificates for vehicles should be privatised.
Private investment, he said, is not picking up primarily because of shortage of capital, lack of infrastructural facilities and poor domestic demand.
Foreign investors«re reluctant to invest in the country ■ because of the country's exist-, *ing Image problem abroad and also because of the lack of infrastructural facilities, which ik a much more serious problem for them, he jiddejl.
But he is optimistic about the country’s economic future and out of that conviction, he pointed out. the. Beximco Group has invested some Taka 540 crore over the last three years or so and that-the Company is also planning an additional Investment of Taka 1,000 crore In the immediate future.
"But I am convinced that economic change can only be brought about by the business community, the private sector. And that is the reason why I am contesting the FBCCI elections," Rahman concluded.